Cigarette lighter using microencapsulated fuel

ABSTRACT

A cigarette lighter which uses microencapsulated fuel, is provided with a mechanism for advancing a predetermined amount of fuel capsules to a burner zone of the lighter from a reservoir thereof and a mechanism for crushing the fuel capsules in the burner zone to effect a release and permit a subsequent ignition of fuel.

Unite Siaies Patent 1 Bouvier 1 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] CIGARETTE LIGHTER USING UNITED STATES PATENTS MICROENCAPSULATED FUEL 2,513,656 7/1950 Lettl ..43l/27l Inventor: Daniel Bouvier, Paris, France 2,237,525 6/1942 Kins i ..431 271 [73] AssigneeZ s T. Dupont (Societe Anonyme), 2,909,914 10/1959 Vissing 431/2 72 Paris, France 2 F d 24 1970 Primary Examiner-Edward G. Favors [2 1 1e Attorney-Edwin E. Greigg [21] Appl. No.: 101,288

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Dam A cigarette lighter which uses microencapsulated fuel, Dec. 24, 1969 France ..6944874 is Provided with a mechanism for advancing a predetermined amount of fuel capsules to a burner [52] U.S.Cl ..43l/267 zone of the lighter from a reservoir thereof and a [51] Int. Cl ..F23q 1/02 mechanism for crushing the fuel capsules in the of Search burner one to effect a release and permit a ub- References Cited sequent ignition of fuel.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CIGARETTE LIGHTER USING MICROENCAPSULATED'FUEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cigarette lighter which uses microencapsulated liquid fuel.

Microencapsulation has become a widely known and used technique. It is concerned with enclosing widely different products, both solids and liquids, in protective envelopes or capsules. The diameter of the capsules which are generally of substantially spherical configu ration, may range from a few microns to several millimeters. The final product, regardless of the nature of the encapsulated material, has the consistency of a dry powdery or granular matter.

Various materials may be used for the capsule. At the present time, more than 50 natural or synthetic polymers may find application in this process which became to be known as microencapsulation. The physical properties of the capsules may also vary between wide limits. They may be rigid or elastic, they may be fluid tight or pervious.

In case the encapsulating envelope is fluid tight, the release of the encapsulated material is effected by destroying the capsules. Such destruction may be brought about in different ways, dependent upon the properties of the capsule material. Thus, the capsules may be destroyed by crushing, or by heating, or by action of a solvent, or by enzymatic reduction.

It was found that lighter fuel may also be encapsulated in the afore-outlined manner.

OBJECT, SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cigarette lighter of simple and inexpensive structure which utilizes encapsulated lighter fuel.

Briefly stated, according to the invention, there is provided a cigarette lighter in which microencapsulated fuel is stored and which includes means for transferring predetermined quantities of encapsulated fuel from storage means to a burning zone, means for breaking at least one part of the fuel capsules in the burning zone to cause release of fuel thereinto and means for igniting the thus released fuel in the burning zone.

The use of microencapsulated fuel in cigarette lighters is particularly advantageous because of an increased safety in handling and further, in view of the fluid-tight fuel capsules, it is not necessary to provide a hermetically closing storage space for the fuel in the lighter body.

The invention will be better understood as well as further objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the ensuing specification taken in conjunction with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a strip containing spaced doses of encapsulated fuel;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of one em- CONSIDERATIONS PERTAINING TO THE COMPOSITION AND IGNITION OF THE ENCAPSULATED FUEL The igniting means for. the fuel may be a conven-.

tional mechanism forming part of the cigarette lighter. It is also feasible, however, to cause a spontaneous combustion of the fuel as soon as the latter is released I from the capsules. For this purpose, the fuel may be contacted with a suitable igniting catalyzer or with a material which forms a self-igniting mixture with the fuel or, a pyrophoric fluid material may be advanced into the burning zone and released simultaneously with the fuel. A simple way to bring together these two materials in the burning zone is to store the encapsulated fuel and the encapsulated activator in the lighter in a thoroughly mixed condition and then to break a determined quantity of the mixed capsules in the burning zone. In case a solid igniting catalyzer is used, the solid particles are simply mixed with the microcapsules containing the fuel, and the mixture is stored in the lighter.

As pyrophoric fluid products, hydrides of boron, hydrides of silicon or alkyl derivates of aluminum of boron or of alkaline metals may be used.

The most widely used igniting catalyzers are nickel, palladium and, above all platinum. The latter may be carried by alumina particles or by carbonized silica.

With catalyzers of this type it is advantageous to use a combustible material whose temperature of ignition is relatively close to normal temperatures, such as cyclopropane, ethylene oxide, acetylene, methyl alcohol, etc. Such combustible material is added to the usual butane-propane fuel either before the microencapsulation (in case the physical characteristics permit an efficient mixing) or when the fuel is released from the microcapsules.

As an example of self-igniting mixtures, the mixture of ethylene oxide with an organic amine or the mixture of furfuryl alcohol with perhydrol may be mentioned. It is to be understood that such a mixture itself may be associated with a catalyzer. Thus, for example, a mixing of butane and perhydrol may take place in the presence of a platinum catalyzer.

For the purpose of facilitating the storing of encapsulated fuel and the advancing of predetermined quantities thereof, the capsules may be incorporated in a neutral" paste which itself may burn or which may contain the particles that carry the igniting catalyzer.

DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, fluid-tight microcapsules 1 containing lighter fuel are thoroughly mixed with fluid-tight microcapsules 2 containing pyrophoric fluid. This mixture is divided into equal doses 3 uniformly spaced and sandwiched between two superimposed strips 4 and 5 bonded to one another. It is seen that this assembly is analogous in structure to a coiled cap strip used in toy guns. Accordingly, the

lighter in which a fuel strip of FIGS. 1 and 2 may find application, comprises a mechanism for advancing the strip and an associated hammer device for hitting that particular fuel dose 3 which has been advanced into the burning zone. Thus, the hammer of the mechanism, upon manipulation of an actuator, crushes at least part of the capsules of one does 3 which was previously suitably positioned within the travelling path of the hammer by a forwarding mechanism during the arming of the hammer. The crushing of the microcapsules causes a release of the pyrophoric matter and of the fuel and as a result, the former ignites the latter. In case the destruction of the capsules is only partial limited, for example, to an area designated with a circle 6 in FIG. 1 the generated flame causes the destruction of the remainder of the microcapsules and thus the entire quantity of fuel in that dose will be ignited. Each dose 3 contains a quantity of fuel which generates a flame of a predetermined uniform duration.

DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the embodiment sown therein uses encapsulated fuel which is incorporated in a paste that is stored in a lighter reservoir (not shown). The latter is associated with a dispensing mechanism for ejecting a predetermined quantity 8 of the paste through the tube 7. Below the outlet opening of the tube 7 there is disposed a horizontal platform or turntable 9 which may be rotated in the direction of arrow F1 about a central axis 10. Above the turntable 9, diametrically opposed to the tube 7, there is disposed a hollow burner 11. Between the burner 11 and the discharge zone of the tube 7 there is located a scraper l2 affecting those surface portions of the turntable 9 which move from the burner 11 towards tube 7.

The hollow burner 11 is formed of an upper head portion 11a and a lower extension 11b. The terminal face of the head 11a is provided with a burner opening 13, while the side of extension llb has several orifices 14. The extension 1 lb is surrounded by an elastic apron 15 which extends downwardly from the lower part of the head portion 11a.

The burner 11 is mounted and supported in such a manner that it is movable normal to the surface of the turntable 9 between a lower, or operative position and an upper, or inoperative position (position of rest). In its lower position, the lower base face 16 of the extension 1 lb is in an immediate vicinity of the surface of the turntable and the lower edge of the apron 15 is in positive, closedline contact therewith. In its upper position, on the other hand, the base 16 of the lower extension 11b is at a substantial distance from the turntable face and the lower edge of the apron I is also spaced therefrom. As it may be observed from FIG. 4, when the burner 11 is in its upper position, the lower edge of apron is slightly below the level of base 16.

The operation of the lighter mechanism shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 is as follows: Upon release of a manual actuator at the end of a preceding igniting cycle, a dose 8 of the paste deposited through the tube 7 on the surface of the turntable 9 is moved with the latter into alignment with the burner 11 which, by this time, is in its position of rest (upper position). FIG. 4 shows the position of the dose 8 in solidlines immediately prior to the termination of a rotation of the turntable 9. The dose 8 then passes under the lower terminal edge of the apron l5, and comes to rest at position 8'.

All components are now in their position of rest and the lighter is ready for ignition.

When the actuator is manipulated (for example, depressed) for effecting operation of the lighter, the following chain of events take place: A new dose 8 is deposited by the tube 7 on the turntable 9 and the burner 11 is lowered in the direction of arrow F2 (FIG. 4). The lower edge portion of the apron 15 contacts the upper face of the turntable 9 and thereafter, upon further downward movement of the burner 11, the apron l5 elastically deforms by bulging (FIG. 5). At the same time, the lower face or base 16 of the burner 11 crushes the paste dose 8 causing destruction of the capsules. The encapsulated products are thus released within the confines delimited by the lowered apron 15 and may escape only through the orifices 14 and 13, whereupon a flame 17 is generated, for example, with the aid of a simultaneously operated conventional igniting mechanism, if the fuel is not of the self-igniting type.

When the actuator is released, the burner 11 returns to its position of rest (FIG. 4), the turntable rotates 180 and its area in which the paste was crushed during the preceding operation, returns under the tube outlet 7. As the aforenoted area of the turntable 9 passes under the scraper 12, the latter pushes outwardly all debris, which may remain on the turntable 9 subsequent to the aforedescribed crushing operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A cigarette lighter comprising A. storing means for receiving fuel enclosed in microcapsules,

B. burner means spaced from said storing means,

C. advancing means for forwarding a predetermined quantity of said microcapsules to said burner and D. hammer means for breaking at least part of the microcapsules of said predetermined quantity in said burner means to cause release of fuel therein.

2. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, including means for igniting the fuel in said burner means.

3. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 2, including means for simultaneously actuating said hammer means and said means for igniting the fuel.

4. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein the microencapsulated fuel is included in a paste, said storing means is adapted to receive said paste.

5. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 4, including dispensing means to remove a predetermined quantity of said paste from said storing means.

6. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 5, wherein said advancing means is formed of a movable platform having a surface in the range of said dispensing means to receive said predetermined quantity of paste therefrom.

7. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 6, wherein said platform has an endless conveying surface extending from said dispensing means to said burner means;

8. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 7, wherein said platform is a turntable. A

9. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 7, wherein said burner means includes A. a hollow burner body disposed adjacent said conveying surface and remote from said dispensing means, said hollow burner body movable towards said conveying surface to assume an operative position and movable away from said conveying surface to assume an inoperative position, said hollow burner body has i. a burner opening at its end remote from said conveying surface and 2. a base at its end adjacent said conveying surface, said base constitutes said hammer means breaking at least part of the microcapsules aligned with said burner body when the latter is in said operative position and B. a flexible apron affixed to said hollow burner body, said apron has a free terminal edge spaced from said conveying surface when said hollow burner body is in said inoperative position, said terminal edge is in a closed line contact with said conveying surface around said predetermined quantity of paste in said burner means when said hollow burner body is in said operative position.

10. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 7, including scraper means associated with said conveying surface to remove debris from portions thereof moving from said burner means to said dispensing means.

11. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 8, wherein said dispensing means and said burner means are disposed diametrically opposed with respect to said turntable.

12. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein the microencapsulated fuel is carried by a strip in predetermined and uniformly spaced doses; said advancing means, upon actuation, is adapted to engage said strip and forward it toward said burner means to an extent so as to position a fuel dose in said burner means. 

1. A cigarette lighter comprising A. storing means for receiving fuel enclosed in microcapsules, B. burner means spaced fRom said storing means, C. advancing means for forwarding a predetermined quantity of said microcapsules to said burner and D. hammer means for breaking at least part of the microcapsules of said predetermined quantity in said burner means to cause release of fuel therein.
 2. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, including means for igniting the fuel in said burner means.
 2. a base at its end adjacent said conveying surface, said base constitutes said hammer means breaking at least part of the microcapsules aligned with said burner body when the latter is in said operative position and B. a flexible apron affixed to said hollow burner body, said apron has a free terminal edge spaced from said conveying surface when said hollow burner body is in said inoperative position, said terminal edge is in a closed line contact with said conveying surface around said predetermined quantity of paste in said burner means when said hollow burner body is in said operative position.
 3. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 2, including means for simultaneously actuating said hammer means and said means for igniting the fuel.
 4. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein the microencapsulated fuel is included in a paste, said storing means is adapted to receive said paste.
 5. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 4, including dispensing means to remove a predetermined quantity of said paste from said storing means.
 6. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 5, wherein said advancing means is formed of a movable platform having a surface in the range of said dispensing means to receive said predetermined quantity of paste therefrom.
 7. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 6, wherein said platform has an endless conveying surface extending from said dispensing means to said burner means.
 8. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 7, wherein said platform is a turntable.
 9. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 7, wherein said burner means includes A. a hollow burner body disposed adjacent said conveying surface and remote from said dispensing means, said hollow burner body movable towards said conveying surface to assume an operative position and movable away from said conveying surface to assume an inoperative position, said hollow burner body has
 10. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 7, including scraper means associated with said conveying surface to remove debris from portions thereof moving from said burner means to said dispensing means.
 11. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 8, wherein said dispensing means and said burner means are disposed diametrically opposed with respect to said turntable.
 12. A cigarette lighter as defined in claim 1, wherein the microencapsulated fuel is carried by a strip in predetermined and uniformly spaced doses; said advancing means, upon actuation, is adapted to engage said strip and forward it toward said burner means to an extent so as to position a fuel dose in said burner means. 